She couldnat stop shaking as he led her down three flights of stairs, then shoved her into a room that looked as though it had been decorated for a kinga"from the overly large bed draped with cloth-of-gold to the striped silk that covered the walls. An overstuffed chair covered in red velvet, a desk, and a large, beautifully carved wardrobe were s.p.a.ced around the room. Aubusson carpets covered the floor; hanging candelabras provided illumination.

aPlease,a he said with exaggerated politeness. aSit down.a It was a demand, not an invitation.

She perched on the edge of the chair, her hands clenched in her lap. A sense of doom settled over her when the door closed, seemingly of its own accord.

The vampire came toward her like a hungry cat stalking its prey. He stood over her, his eyes going red, his fangs gleaming as he lowered his head to her neck.

Panic swept over her as his hand closed over her shoulder. She wanted to fight him, wanted to scream for him to leave her alone, but sheer terror at what he might do if she opposed him held her frozen in place.

aNo.a The word escaped her lips. aPlease. Thereas been a mistake. Iam not one of. . . of the sheep.a But he didnat listen.

Didnat stop.

Didnat care.

There was no pleasure in his bite as he bent her back over his arm, only an excruciating pain that sizzled down the length of her neck like the sharp bite of a serpent, and then burned its way through every nerve and cell in her body.

She screamed with the pain of it as her body began to tremble uncontrollably. When he bit her again, the world spun out of focus. She was falling, slipping helplessly into a black abyss that felt like death. Sobbing, she whispered a single word.

aDrake.a He came awake with a start, the echo of Elenaas terrified cry ringing in his ears. Ignoring the pain that burned through him with every breath, he pulled against the chain that shackled him to the wall. He struggled to free himself even though he knew it was useless. His preternatural strength had been leeched away by the silver that bound him, by the relentless sunlight that had scorched his flesh.

His whole body throbbed in agony. Blood oozed from where the silver had rubbed his skin raw. Sweat stung his eyes. His tortured body screamed for nourishment to relieve the pain and the thirst.

aElena.a Her name whispered past dry, cracked lips. aElena, forgive me.a

Chapter 15.

Elena couldnat sleep that night. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the vampireas h.e.l.lish gaze, felt his fangs savaging her throat again and again. She huddled under the covers, shoulders shaking, eyes burning with tears. Where was Drake? Why wouldnat they let her see him? She needed him, needed him desperately. She was lost and alone in a nightmare from which there was no escape.

Gradually, exhaustion claimed her and she fell into a restless sleep, only to wake some time later, a scream on her lips.

aHush, now, youall be all right.a Elena opened her eyes. In the dim light, she saw one of the women kneeling beside her bed. aS-sorry,a Elena said, sniffing back her tears.

aNo need to apologize. We all have nightmares now and then. I am Northa.a aElena.a aWhat are you doing here? You are not one of us.a Elena hesitated a moment, wondering if she should tell the truth, and then shrugged. aDrake is my husband.a Northaas eyes grew wide with astonishment. aYou married Rodinas eldest son?a At this announcement, someone lit a nearby candle and several other women cl.u.s.tered around Elenaas cot, their expressions filled with curiosity.

Elena nodded.

aIt is said that of all Rodinas sons, Drake is his favorite.a aI find that hard to believe,a Elena said, remembering how angry Rodin had been.

aWe only know what little we hear,a Marta said. aIt is rumored among us that Drake left the Fortress over three hundred years ago and in all that time, he has never come back.a A girl with straight brown hair and gray eyes nodded. aCullin told me that his brother has never been one of them, that he never approved of his father keeping us here against our will.a She made a vague gesture with one hand. aI donat understand what he means, against our will. If we didnat stay here, where would we go?a aThereas a whole world out there,a Elena said. aYou could have a place of your own, get married, have children.a aSome of us will be allowed to mate and have children,a Northa said.

aAnd those children will be food for the vampires!a Elena exclaimed.

Northa shrugged. aIt is how it has always been.a aBut youare prisoners!a Elena looked at the women gathered around her. aDonat you want to be free?a aWhat is free?a Marta asked.

aIam free,a Elena said. aI chose to marry Drake. We have a house of our own. No one tells us what to do or when to do it. We can come and go as we please.a A girl with short black hair snorted with disdain. aYou look like us,a she said, tugging on the sleeve of Elenaas nightgown, which was like the gowns all the other women wore. aYou feed the vampires. How are you any different?a aI donat belong here.a aBut here you are,a the dark-haired girl said with an air of finality. aAnd once you are here, you can never leave.a Those words, and the finality with which the dark-haired girl had spoken them, haunted Elena in the recreation room the next day. It might be true for the sheep, that there was no escape, but it couldnat be true for her. She didnat belong here. Would never belong here. She refused to believe she would never leave this horrible place. She had to cling to the hope that she would soon be with Drake again, that they could return to Wolfram Castle, because hope was all she had.

Now and then, one or another of the women would ask her what it was like outside the Fortress. What did the outside world look like? Had she ever seen a tree? A flower? Felt the sun on her face? The sheep knew about these things. They read books, saw movies and pictures, but they had never touched a living tree, smelled a flower, walked barefoot in the gra.s.s.

When she found herself drowning in despair, she clung to Lilianaas promise that she would see Drake again. She prayed it would be soon.

The day dragged on. She tried to read but couldnat concentrate on the words. More than anything, she wanted to go outside, to feel the sun on her face, to go for a walk. To spend some time alone. How did the women stand it, always being together, never having any privacy, never having a few minutes to themselves? She wondered why the vampires refused to let their captives go outside. Didnat they trust the guards to protect them? Or were the vampires afraid the guards would run away if given the chance?

After what seemed like forever, it was time for last meal. She was trembling when she entered the dining hall. Too nervous to eat, she kept glancing at the door, praying that Vardin would not call for her again.

When he appeared in the doorway, she could scarcely breathe. More frightened than she would have believed possible, she kept her head down, hoping he wouldnat see her. Her heart pounded so loudly she could hardly hear anything else.

But she heard his voice echoing loudly in her mind, felt herself rising, moving toward him on legs that trembled, following him down the stairs and into his apartment.

And then the door was closing and Vardin was standing over her, his eyes glowing a bright, h.e.l.lish red, his fangs gleaming in the candlelight.

Elena came awake to the sound of someone calling her name. For a moment, she imagined it was Vardin leaning over her, lightly shaking her shoulder. She swallowed the scream rising in her throat when she opened her eyes and saw Rodin standing beside her bed.

aGet up,a he said sternly.

aWhereas Drake? Is he all right? I want to see him. I need to see him. Please, Iall do anything, just let me see him.a aThen do as I say.a Rising, her heart filled with trepidation, she followed Rodin out of the dormitory and up the stairs to the tower room.

Outside the door, a candle in a wall sconce came to life, seemingly of its own accord. Rodin plucked the taper from the holder, then opened the tower door and stepped inside.

Elena followed him, a soft cry of denial falling from her lips when she saw Drake curled up against the far wall.

Murmuring his name, she ran to kneel beside him. aDrake? Oh, Drake.a aGo away.a aNo. What have they done to you?a His hands were swollen and blistered.

aElena,a he said hoa.r.s.ely, aget out of here. I do not want you to remember me like this.a aIam not leaving.a She glanced over her shoulder. aHow could you do this to him? What kind of monster are you?a aHe is my son,a Rodin replied coldly. aHe has violated our laws. The usual punishment is death. But I have decided to be lenient, for his motheras sake.a aLenient!a She screamed the word at him. aYou call this lenient?a Tears filled her eyes when she looked at Drake again. Gently, she stroked his hair.

He flinched at her touch and she realized his scalp was also burned.

She looked up at Rodin again. aDo something. Heas suffering.a Rodin nodded. aIt would not be punishment if he were not.a aI want to be alone with him.a aI will allow you five minutes.a aHow very generous of you.a It took all the willpower she possessed to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.

Rodin inclined his head. He placed the candle in a crack in the floor, then left the tower, closing the door behind him.

aDrake, you need blood,a Elena said urgently. aHurry, we only have a few minutes. Take mine.a aNo.a He shook his head. aGo away.a aStop being so stubborn. We donat have time to argue.a Raising his head, he looked at her, only then noticing that she wore the same plain white nightgown the sheep wore. aWhy do you not hate me for bringing you here?a aItas not your fault. You didnat know this would happen.a aI promised he would treat you well.a His nostrils flared. aVardin.a The name hissed past his lips. aI will kill him for this.a aIam fine.a She forced the lie past her lips. aPlease, my husband, take what you need.a He shook his head. aI dare not,a he said. aIf I beginaa"he shook his head againa"aI am afraid I would not be able to stop.a aPlease, Drake,a she begged softly. aI canat bear to see you suffering like this.a aIt will pa.s.s, in time.a She stared at him. His beautiful face was blistered almost beyond recognition. She yearned to take him in her arms, to hold him close and comfort him, but touching him would only cause him more pain.

Leaning forward, she kissed him ever so lightly. aI love you.a aFoolish girl.a aTell me,a she begged. aTell me you love me, even if itas a lie. Tell me weall be together again soon and that nothing will ever part us.a He cupped her cheek in his hand. aI love you,a he said fervently. aWhatever the future holds, never doubt that I will always love you.a aAnd weall be together again, promise me.a aWe will be together again, wife,a he said, brushing the tears from her cheeks. aI swear it.a She forced a smile. She knew he was lying, but for now, it was all she had.

aRodin is coming,a Drake said.

Leaning forward, he kissed her again, an achingly tender brush of his scorched lips across hers. A fleeting caress that she knew meant good-bye.

And then Rodin was there, dragging her to her feet, leading her away.

Chapter 16.

Drake sank back on the cold stone floor, more miserable than he had ever been in his life. Yesterday had been bad. Today had been worse. He breathed a sigh of relief as the sun went down. His body twitched uncontrollably, his fangs ached. He needed blood. But worse than any of that was the knowledge that Vardin had fed on Elena, and there was nothing he could do about it.

He rested his forehead on his bent knees, thoughts of vengeance and murder chasing through his mind like mice in a maze. Closing his eyes, he imagined driving a stake through his brotheras black heart. But it wasnat Vardin who was responsible. True, he had fed on Elena, but it was Rodin who had allowed it to happen. For all Drake knew, Rodin had suggested it. One thing was certain, Elena would not have been quartered with the sheep if Rodin hadnat ordered it.

aSpeak of the devil and he appears,a Drake muttered as his sire opened the tower door. It took every ounce of what strength he had left to gain his feet.

aI have brought you something to drink,a Rodin said.

aI want nothing from you. Nothing but Elenaas freedom.a Closing the distance between them, Rodin held up a tankard made of gold. aDrink this.a aNo.a aDo not make me force you.a Drake glared at his sire. What would be worse, drinking of his own free will, or resisting? One way or the other, Rodin would have his way, and with that thought in mind, Drake reached for the goblet.

The contents were thick and cold but he drank greedily, his eyes closing as the blood took the edge off the worst of the pain. After draining the goblet, he licked his lips, then met his sireas gaze. aHow long are you going to keep me locked up?a aThat is what I have come to discuss with you,a Rodin said. Taking the goblet, he tossed it aside.

Drake took a deep breath. From Rodinas tone, it was obvious he wasnat going to like what was coming.

aTomorrow night, in front of the Council, I will annul your marriage to the mortal female and formally announce your betrothal to Katiya. Since the night of the new moon has pa.s.sed, you will wed at her pleasure.a aAnd if I refuse?a aI will leave you here until your flesh is dry and your veins empty and you beg me for mercy.a aEver the loving father,a Drake said bitterly. aIs that the worst you can do?a aIf you continue to defy me, I will give the woman to Vardin to do with as he pleases.a aHe has already fed on her,a Drake said, unable to keep the fury from his voice. aTwice!a aYou know what he is capable of. Be grateful he has done her no permanent harm.a It took every ounce of his willpower, honed over five centuries, for Drake to choke back the rage that engulfed him. aI will never forgive you for this.a Rodin nodded. aI have your word that you will do as I have decreed?a aYou will release Elena tomorrow and send her back to Wolfram.a aNo. I will release her the day after you and Katiya are wed.a aI have your word?a Rodin straightened to his full height, his eyes flashing with anger. aDo you doubt it?a Drake snorted with contempt. aI told Elena you would treat her well, that it was not your way to make war on women.a aI have done what was necessary. I will have your word that you will do as I have commanded.a aYou have it, on three conditions. I will marry Katiya, but then the two of us will be free to leave the Fortress.a aSo you can abandon her as soon as you are away? Do you take me for a fool?a aI will not abandon her.a aThe woman, Elena, will pay the price if you do.a aI have no doubt of that.a Rodin paced to the far end of the tower, his hands clasped behind his back. Returning to stand in front of Drake, he said, aYou may leave the Fortress when Katiya is with child. In the meantime, there is the matter of the Council. . . .a aThatas the second condition. I do not belong on the Council and we both know it. There is no law that says all the members must be of your direct bloodline. Liam would be an admirable addition.a Rodin grunted softly. Liam was a liaison between Rodin and Lucien, the Master Vampire of the Italian Fortress.

aAnd your third condition?a aElena will not be quartered with the sheep, or used as sustenance by anyone. She is to have the run of the Fortress, and all her needs met. She is . . . was . . . my wife and I will have her treated with the respect she deserves.a aVery well. Now I have a condition of my own. You will not attempt to see her.a aI demand the right to bid her farewell when she leaves.a aNeed I remind you that you are in no position to demand anything?a Drake clenched his jaw, then blew out a breath. aMust I beg for the opportunity to tell her good-bye?a aNo,a Rodin said through clenched teeth. aI will allow it.a aI would ask one more favor. She will need someone to take her home.a aI will see that she arrives safely.a aShe is to have Wolfram Castle. I will need pen and paper to make it legal.a Rodin nodded.

aI promised her the wherewithal to provide for her needs as long as she lived.a Rodin folded his arms over his chest. aAnything else?a he asked tersely.

aNo. If you will do these things for me, then I vow to take Katiya as my bride. I will see that she conceives a child. I will put her happiness before my own. You have my word on it.a aAnd you have mine.a Slipping a heavy glove on his right hand, Rodin touched the thick silver leg iron that bound Drakeas ankle to the wall. The manacle fell away with a harsh clatter.

aCome,a Rodin said. aYour mother is anxious to see you.a Elena paced the floor of the dormitory, scarcely aware of the other women who were preparing for bed. It had been a very long day, her every thought for Drake. After seeing him last night, she could think of nothing else, could not begin to imagine the pain he was feeling. How did he endure it? How had he even survived? She could not comprehend such torment, or understand how any man, vampire or not, could be so cruel to his own flesh and blood.

They had to get away from here, but how? Drake was helpless as long as he was imprisoned in the tower. There was no way she could break down the dormitory door, or fight her way through a nest of vampires. She shuddered to think what her future would be if something happened to Drake.

She lifted a hand to her neck, remembering the pain, the horror, of being bitten by Vardin. She knew now why the other sheep feared him. He was cruel, oblivious to the pain he caused. Or maybe he simply enjoyed it.

After washing her hands and face, Elena changed into the long white gown she had been given to sleep in and crawled under the covers of her narrow cot. She had been too upset to sit and talk with the other girls while they readied themselves for bed but now, as Northa blew out the last candle, Elena recalled Marta saying it wasnat uncommon for the vampires to come for one of them in the middle of the night.

Elena folded her arms over her chest. How was she supposed to sleep knowing that Vardin or one of the other vampires might come looking for a midnight snack?

She was drifting to sleep when the dormitory door opened. She tasted fear on her tongue as someone stepped into the room. But it was only Liliana.

aCome,a the vampire said quietly.

Slipping out of bed, Elena followed Liliana into the clothing room, afraid to ask what was coming. To her surprise, Liliana thrust the clothing Elena had worn to the Fortress into her hands. aDress quickly. The Council awaits.a The Council. All too clearly, she recalled Drakeas words: The Council judges those who have broken our laws, and executes them, if necessary. Were they going to execute her for marrying Drake? Or worse, execute them both?

Unable to still her trembling, she removed the nightgown and tossed it aside. She quickly donned her undergarments, then slipped the lavender silk dress over her head and smoothed it over her hips. Sitting on a low stool, she pulled on her heels, thinking how good it felt to wear her own clothes again.

When she started to rise, Liliana put a hand on her shoulder, forcing her back down, and then, to Elenaas surprise, the vampire began brushing her hair.

Feeling like a sacrifice being readied for the altar, Elena folded her hands in her lap to still their trembling.

aIt is time,a the vampire said. aYou will keep silent when we reach the Council chambers. Do you understand ?a Elena nodded. Hoping her legs would support her, she followed Liliana up the winding staircase and down the candlelit corridor to the Council chambers. She hesitated when Liliana opened the cathedral-like door. Feeling like a lamb being led to the slaughter, she took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The first thing she saw was Drake. Clad in nothing but a pair of black sweatpants, he knelt in front of the dais, head bowed, hands shackled behind his back. In the light of a hundred candles, the ravages of the sunas heat were clearly visible. His skin was badly burned; in some places, it was almost black.

Rodin sat on his throne, as regal and powerful as any king. A girl sat in the chair beside him. She was young, surely not more than sixteen. Her hair was a rich chestnut brown, her eyes a shade lighter beneath delicately arched brows. She had an aristocratic nose, a generous mouth, a long, slender neck. Her skin was almost luminescent. Lilianaas beauty paled beside that of the younger woman.

The members of the Council, dressed in ubiquitous black, sat like statues.

When Elena would have gone to Drake, Liliana put a staying hand on her arm. aNo. You must not go near him. You must not speak to him.a And with that admonition, Liliana went to stand beside her husbandas chair.

Several moments pa.s.sed before Rodin spoke. aAs Master of the Coven, I call this Council to order. Drake, here present, has violated the laws of our kind in that he has taken a mortal female as his wife. As his sire and Master of this Coven, I hereby declare his marriage void from this night forward.a Elena stared at Drake. He had told her that Rodin wouldnat annul their marriage if it was consummated. Had he lied to her? She willed him to look at her, but his head remained bowed.

aDrake, do you, of your own free will, agree to abide by this annulment?a aYes, sire.a aNo!a The word was torn from Elenaas throat.

Rodin glared at her. aRemain silent, woman! As spoken and agreed, the marriage between Drake and the woman, Elena Knightsbridge, is declared null and void.a As one, the twelve members of the Council said, aAs spoken and agreed, let it be done.a aDone and done,a Rodin said. aDrake, arise.a The heavy chains binding his wrists rattled as, with an effort, Drake gained his feet.

Rodin stood. He smiled at the young woman sitting quietly in the other chair, then extended his hand. aCome, Katiya.a She rose gracefully, her head high and proud as she took her place at Rodinas side.

aBy my will and authority,a the Master Vampire declared, aI do hereby approve and affirm the betrothal between Drake Sherrad and Katiya Belova, here present. The marriage will be performed at a time of the brideas choosing. This Council is dismissed.a

Chapter 17.

Once again, Elena found herself being led out of the Council chambers. But she wasnat taken downstairs to the womenas dormitory this time. Instead, Liliana escorted her into a large chamber at the other end of the corridor.

aThis will be your room for the remainder of your stay,a the vampire said, her voice cool. aPlease, make yourself at home. You may have the run of the Fortress during the daylight hours. I would advise you to remain in here, with the door locked, when the sun goes down. You may dine in here, or join the shee . . . the other women at mealtimes. Is there anything you wish?a Elena clasped her hands, took a deep breath, and said, aI would very much like to see Drake.a aMy son is no longer your concern.a Elena bit down hard on her lower lip. It was the only way to stifle the angry words of protest that rose in her throat. She would have gone down on her knees and begged, but she knew doing so would accomplish nothing but her own humiliation. Instead, she straightened her spine and said, aYouare right, of course.a Something that might have been compa.s.sion flickered in the depths of Lilianaas deep green eyes, and was quickly gone. aThere is a nightgown and a change of clothing in the wardrobe. If you have need of anything at all, there will be a drone outside your door. Just tell him what you want.a Elena nodded. A drone? What on earth was that?

aI bid you good night,a Liliana said, and with a last look around the room, she took her leave, quietly closing the door behind her.

Elena stood in the middle of the room. It was a far cry from the dormitory where the sheep were housed. Several landscapes adorned the pale yellow walls. Plush beige carpeting m.u.f.fled her footsteps. A ceramic pitcher and several gla.s.ses sat atop an ornately carved three-drawer chest, along with a hair brush and hand mirror. A flowered quilt covered a large bra.s.s bed. A wooden shelf held a number of books written in several different languages, as well as numerous DVDs and CDs for the TV and stereo housed in a small entertainment unit. Curious, she opened the door to the left of the bed and stepped inside, surprised to find a small bathroom. There was no tub, just a commode, sink, and shower. A shelf held several towels.

Returning to the main room, she went to the window and pulled back the heavy drapery. A bright yellow moon shone on the snowcapped mountains in the distance. It was too dark to see anything else, but she stood there for several minutes, staring at the wispy gray clouds drifting across the inky sky.

Where was Drake? Was someone caring for him? How long would it take for those dreadful burns to heal? Was he still a prisoner? Would they let her see him again?

So many questions and no one to answer them.

Suddenly overcome with weariness, she sat on the edge of the bed and removed her shoes, then let down her hair.

There would be time enough for answers tomorrow.

Drake lay on his back on a thick pallet in a cell in the dungeon beneath the Fortress, his arms folded behind his head. It was a dismal place, but preferable to being locked in the tower. A sound of disgust rose in his throat. Trust Rodin to drag out his punishment as long as possible, as if Drake could forget that he was no longer a free man, or that his sire was now making his decisions for him. The thought rankled beyond bearing.

Earlier, Rodin had brought him one of the sheep, but Drake had refused to feed, even though drinking from her would have helped ease his pain and aided in his healing.